NHL 17 Franchise Mode Trailer and Plenty of Details

[iam31yearsold]

Pretty cool. Even if on ice is the same, this gives a lot of new stuff to tinker with.

Dynamic attendance is next level, no other sports game really has that except MLB. So props there.

Surprisingly, this has me leaving slightly towards a buy. But let's face it, SO many other games, not just sports, coming out around this that are much more worth the money.

[kariya05]

So many areas of franchise mode that should be improved and they decide that picking chicken wing prices was most important. This just shows how much the NHL devs try to please the casual fans rather than real hockey fans.

[actionhank]

Quote: Originally Posted by mlbshower15

it's amazing how people have been calling for changes and an overhaul to GM mode and EA delivers. yet people still complain that they don't want this type of immersion and that it is a copy of other games. this looks awesome and something that we have never really seen from NHL

To be fair, most people (such as myself) have been calling for deeper improvements to the core of GM mode, which this doesn't exactly provide. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool feature, but there is a lot of other stuff I would have preferred.

Real life things like negotiating contracts mid-season is missing, you'll never see a player take you to free agency. The whole trade deadline is pretty ho-hum, especially when it seems teams just look to be randomly moving players with no real plan in terms of short-term or long-term gains. It's possible this new Franchise mode helps with that, but I would imagine they would mention it if it was a feature.

Similarly, poor playing teams can still attract people all the same, whereas in real life, it's tough. If your team has been losing for a while, and you're constantly in the basement, you generally have to overpay in trades and for free agents. On the other hand, winning teams and teams that are in hockey friendly markets might have an easier time getting guys to take a discount, or sign over a rival.

I don't want to say the new Franchise mode is horrible. It honestly looks pretty fun. But, at the same time there's so much micromanaging there that doesn't really help my actual team. I want to be able to focus more on the players, and the on-ice action. I want to be able to change the practice focus of my team, maybe try and get young rookies to learn a new position. I want to be able to have to actually negotiate with my players, or try and persuade the year's big free agent why he should come to my town. I want to talk to player's agents and get updates on who we're bidding against. Even things like who your coach is, and what type of style they want to play would be huge, along with hiring actual assistant coaches and powerplay specialists. All of that could affect how teams play and build their rosters. There's a lot of in game work that I feel needs to be updated before I want to focus on concessions and restrooms.

I think if the new sliders work well, it will be a big step in the right direction, and the Franchise mode certainly will provide a new way to play Be a GM.

Edit: It's worth noting that a big complaint a lot of us had looks to have been addressed. The new animations and stats they showed in this video look like they will be pretty nice. The hat trick skate by that Eichel had, the stat showing goals since being traded, and what looked to be a memorable moment puck toss by a player, maybe something like a first goal, or 300th goal. Those will be nice to see in game, and bring a nice bit of excitement to the ice.

[Moose24x]

Quote: Originally Posted by mlbshower15

it's amazing how people have been calling for changes and an overhaul to GM mode and EA delivers. yet people still complain that they don't want this type of immersion and that it is a copy of other games. this looks awesome and something that we have never really seen from NHL

I don't think these are the changes people have been asking for.

People want a more immersive HOCKEY experience, not a more immersive BUSINESS experience. People want the excitmement of the trade deadline and opening day of free agency. They want more fanfare around the draft and better scouting. More complex contract negotiations with NTCs/NMCs and in-season extensions. I don't recall anyone EVER begging for EA to include a mode where we strategically select which night should be a bobble head giveaway or allowing us to set the prices for valet parking.

It's a hockey game. People want HOCKEY improvements. From the on ice gameplay and presentation to the atmosphere and immersion into important events throughout the season. Nobody cares about the business side and balancing ticket prices, parking prices, jersey prices, beer prices and having it effect whether you get fired from your GM or aren't able to utilize the full salary cap in building your team. Since when do GMs handle these sorts of expenses anyway? This is now a fictional mish-mash of GM responsibilities and duties that belong to someone else entirely, yet it effects whether or not you can remain the GM of the team you want to play with.

This stuff would be fine, assuming you can choose to turn it off if you don't like it, if it was coming on top of, or after, more significant improvements to the actual hockey elements of the game. As the sole improvement to the game, it ends up seeming underwhelming and confusing to some of us.

[mikeq672]

Quote: Originally Posted by mlbshower15

it's amazing how people have been calling for changes and an overhaul to GM mode and EA delivers. yet people still complain that they don't want this type of immersion and that it is a copy of other games. this looks awesome and something that we have never really seen from NHL

I must have missed all those people clamoring to set hot dog prices as the GM of a hockey team. GM's have nothing to do with that stuff, this is just a stupid thing they add in to distract from the fact that they didnt actually add anything anyone wanted.

[MizzouRah]

Like some have said, I hope you can turn off on put some of this fluff on AUTO AI.

I love building up my team, signing players, draft, etc.. but I don't want to spend time with ticket pricing, beer prices, popcorn prices, fixing the bathrooms, etc..

GM's don't have to do that sort of stuff. I would imagine you can AUTO some of those options.

I do LOVE the goal totals now, seems like more stat popups and the group hug at the end was neat.

[Simple Mathematics]

Dynamic attendance and team budgets sound awesome. I can't wait to see how well they were implemented.

[green94]

Wow I just saw a bunch of little things in that trailer!

-First goal puck to the bench
-Goal totals updating
-Dynamic stat banners (goals scored since trade)
-Presentations for giveaways (bobblehead and shirts)
-5 man group hug?!?!